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College plan moves forward

The District of Vanderhoof acting on behalf of the Nechako Valley Post Secondary Working Group, has secured funds
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(L to R) Alan Fitzpatrick

The District of Vanderhoof acting on behalf of the Nechako Valley Post Secondary Working Group, has secured funds to develop an education plan. It will focus  on the Nechako Valley as a priority for increased investment in post secondary education and infrastructure. The ad-hoc committee is led by Gary Blattner, Alan Fitzpatrick and Lori Borth, and made up of several other representatives from community, industry, education and First Nations.

Early on in this process, we had commitments of $5,000 from the College of New Caledonia, $1,000 from L&M Lumber, $1,000 from Canfor, $1,000 from New Gold, $1,000 from the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako and another $1,000 anticipated from Thompson Creek Metals – Mt. Milligan. The recent approval of up to $43,000 from the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition completes the funding necessary to get this project underway.

A request for proposals posted in BC Bid, closed on February 17.  A committee has been struck to review the proposals with a goal to having a contract in place by March 1, and a completed plan by June 30.

The plan will include engaging stakeholders to identify fresh strategies for addressing chronic  barriers to accessing and providing post secondary education for the region. It will seek and adopt innovative training  models,  facility needs and will provide early budget projections.

The end result will be a  three-year plan that will show a cost-benefit analysis including potential returns on investment in the way of job creation, revenue generation and tax implications.

We all believe that those that train in the North, stay in the North! For info call Kathie LaForge at Vanderhoof district 250-567-4711 or edo@district.vanderhoof.ca